8 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. 121 



incertus (LeConte) = 3. decumanus (Erichson) 



laticollis (Erichson) = 1. similis (Kirby) 



lixus Blatchley=16. depressus (Melsheimer) 



longicornis Blatchley=33. crihriventris Blatchley 



longulus (LeConte) = 17. morosus Caiidfeze 



ochraceipennis Melsheimer=l. similis (Kirby) 



paganus Candeze=5. communis (Gyllenhal) 



paradoxus (Melsheimer) = 4. castanipes (PaykuU) 



parumpundatus (Melsheimer) = 16. depressus (Melsheimer) 



peninsularis Candfeze=14. clandestinus (Erichson) 



perplexus Blatchley=14. clandestinus (Erichson) 



prolixus (Erichson) = 1. similis (Kirby) 



scrobricollis (LeConte)=4. castanipes (Paykull) 



secretus (LeConte) = 15. ignobilis Melsheimer 



simulans Blatchley=17. morosus Candfeze 



sphenoidalis (Melsheimer) = 1. similis (Kirby) 



tenellus (Erichson) =42. insipiens (Say) 



texanus Candfeze=4. castanipes (Paykull) 



variolatus LeConte = 40. longulus oregonensis (LeConte) 



vetulus (Erichson) = 19. coriicinus (Say) 



Melanotus Eschscholtz 



Melanotus Eschscholtz, 1829, p. 32. [For additional references, see Schenkling, 



1927, p. 271.] 

 Perimecus Stephens, 1830, p. 263 [Type: Elater fulvipes Herbst, by monotypy.] 

 Ctenonychu^ Stephens, 1830, p. 272 [Type: Ctenonychus hirsutus Stephens, by 



monotypy.] 

 Cratonychus Dejean, 1833, p. 87. [Type: Elater obscurus Oliver, designated by 



Blanchard, 1845, p. 76.] 



Type species: Elater fulvijyes Herbst, designated by Westwood, 

 1840, p. 26. 



Adult (partly after Lane, in litt.) : Color usually uniformly yel- 

 lowish brown to dark reddish brown, only 2 species bicolored. 

 Head with front coarsely punctate, punctiu-es hexagonal and sep- 

 arated by less than own diameter; frontal margin complete, carinate 

 (sometimes obsolescent) ; parantennal fovea and nasale variously 

 developed, but well defined (nasale indistinct in few species). An- 

 tenna 11-segmented; segment 1 elongate and cylindrical, 2 spherical, 

 3 variable from spherical and equal size of 2 to much longer and 

 triangular, 4 and following triangular; male only '\\dth dense, erect 

 hairs on mesal margin. Palpus 3-segmented, light reddish brown 

 and lighter than rest of body, 



Pronotal punctures present, but size and distribution variable; 

 hind angles well developed and carinate. Elytron Mith 9 striae 

 formed by rows of punctures and rows of quadrate, subcuticular 

 spots under striae. No prothoracic groove for receiving antenna; 

 meso- and metasternum not meeting to enclose mesocoxal cavities, 

 mesocoxae separated, metasternum truncate anteriorly. Tibiae with 



